“It takes two to tango”, “one municipality does not a merger make”, etc. etc. Pick one of these or any other phrase to describe how a successful merger or consolidation of public sector services or government entities themselves has to happen. Both sides have to see the benefits. Right now, the proposal to have Pittsburgh provide firefighting services to the Borough of Ingram is a decidedly one-sided affair (here, here, and here).
In the sole municipality where the City executed a fire service merger (Wilkinsburg, where fire service was not volunteer) a former council member of that borough noted it took two years of discussion. Ingram’s department is volunteer and the arrangement would involve a direct payment to Pittsburgh–no employees have to be absorbed and no issues of seniority or benefits have to be sifted through.
So Pittsburgh likely views the issue as smooth sailing. Council already approved the deal in December for a sum of $459k for the period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2020. Though it does not show up as a line item in 2016’s revenues, the 2016 Pittsburgh budget states ” The City provides Fire and Refuse collection services to the neighboring borough of Wilkinsburg, and will be expanding its fire coverage to the borough of Ingram in 2016″. The City plans to receive $958k for trash collection and $1,697k for fire protection from Wilkinsburg in 2016. Based on the proposed total and length of contract the Ingram agreement would amount to $92k per year.
